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Karazhan's tower under a full moon, watched by a raven

Karazhan Guide — Raid guide · WoW Burning Crusade

How the run goes

Medivh's tower, a ten-player raid with a flexible order. Attumen in the stables and Moroes at his banquet come first; then the guest chambers (Maiden of Virtue) and the Opera; the Menagerie with The Curator, Terestian Illhoof and the Shade of Aran; Netherspite; the Chess Event; and Prince Malchezaar at the top. Nightbane and the Servants' Quarters are optional.

Group: Ten players: two tanks, three healers and five damage dealers. Crowd control for Moroes's guests, fear protection for Nightbane, and interrupts for Aran and The Curator's Evocation burn.

Map and route

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Attumen in the stables and the Servants' Quarters, Moroes in the banquet hall, Maiden of Virtue and the Opera in the guest chambers, then up the tower: the Curator, Terestian Illhoof, Shade of Aran, Netherspite, the Chess Event and Prince Malchezaar. Nightbane is summoned on the Master's Terrace.

  1. strategy
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  4. strategy
  5. strategyThe play changes from week to week.
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  11. strategy
  12. strategySummoned on the Master's Terrace with the Blackened Urn.

! marks a quest giver inside the instance; select it for the quest.

  1. 1.The stables and the banquet

    From the entrance through the stables to Attumen the Huntsman and Midnight, then up to the banquet hall for Moroes and his guests. The Servants' Quarters off the stables hide one of three beasts once the quarters are cleared.

    1. 1Attumen the Huntsman
    2. 2Servants' Quarters — Hyakiss the Lurker, Rokad the Ravager, Shadikith the Glider
    3. 3Moroes
  2. 2.The guest chambers and the Opera

    Through the guest chambers to Maiden of Virtue, then the Opera House: speak to Barnes to start this week's play (Big Bad Wolf, Romulo and Julianne, or the Wizard of Oz).

    1. 4Maiden of Virtue
    2. 5Opera Event — The Big Bad Wolf, Romulo, Julianne, The Crone, Dorothee, Roar, Strawman, Tinhead
  3. 3.The Menagerie and the library

    Up through the Menagerie to The Curator, then Terestian Illhoof in his lair beside it. The Guardian's Library leads to the Shade of Aran's study, and Netherspite waits in the Celestial Watch.

    1. 6The Curator
    2. 7Terestian Illhoof
    3. 8Shade of Aran
    4. 9Netherspite
  4. 4.The top of the tower

    The Chess Event opens the way to Prince Malchezaar on Netherspace, the tower's summit. Nightbane is summoned at the Master's Terrace with the Blackened Urn from his quest chain.

    1. 10Chess Event
    2. 11Prince Malchezaar
    3. 12Nightbane

Boss by boss

The stables and the banquet

On the way: Spectral stable hands and horses, then skeletal servants and ghostly guests around the banquet. Phantom guards come in pairs.

  1. 1

    Attumen the Huntsman

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    370,000
    Armor
    7,684
    • Intangible PresenceReduces an enemy's chance to hit by 50%. Reduces an enemy's chance to hit with spells by 50%.
    • Charge
    • KnockdownDeals 1500 damage to current enemy target, knocking them down for 3 sec.
    • Shadow CleaveInflicts weapon damage minus 1500 Shadow damage to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 3 targets.

    First Midnight, his horse; then Attumen joins. When one of them is low, he mounts Midnight and charges players far from him.

    Tanks
    One tank on Midnight, a second picks up Attumen when he appears; keep his Shadow Cleave away from the raid.
    Healers
    Remove his curse, which lowers hit chance, from the tanks and melee.
    Damage dealers
    Ranged stand close enough that his charge doesn't single anyone out. Burn the mounted Attumen.
  2. 2

    Servants' Quarters — Hyakiss the Lurker, Rokad the Ravager, Shadikith the Glider

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    73 · Rare elite
    Health
    265,580
    Armor
    7,684
    • Hyakiss' WebStuns an enemy for 10 sec.
    • Acidic FangInflicts normal damage plus 0 to an enemy, then an additional 500 Nature damage every 2 sec. for 30 sec. Reduces armor by 1000. Stacks up to 7 times.
    • RavageInflicts normal damage plus 500 to an enemy, causing it to bleed for 2550 damage over 10 sec.
    • DiveCharges a distant enemy, inflicting normal damage plus 1, then fears all nearby targets.
    • Sonic BurstInflicts normal damage plus 2188 to 2812 on nearby enemies, preventing them from spellcasting for 5 sec.
    • Wing BuffetInflicts 1050 to 1350 damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster, knocking them back.

    Once the Servants' Quarters are cleared, one of three beasts appears: Hyakiss the spider webs players and poisons with Acidic Fang, Rokad the worg ravages, and Shadikith the bat dives, silences with Sonic Burst and buffets.

    Tanks
    Pick up whichever beast appears; Shadikith dives at players, so taunt him back after each dive.
    Healers
    Hyakiss's web takes players out of the fight and her fang poisons; Shadikith's Sonic Burst silences everyone near him.
    Damage dealers
    Clear the quarters fully first, then burn the beast; ranged stay back from Shadikith's burst.
  3. Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    386,988
    Armor
    7,684
    • GarroteGarrote the target, inflicting 107500 damage over 5 min.
    • BlindBlinds the target, causing it to wander confused for up to 10 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect.
    • GougeInflicts 950 to 1050 damage to an enemy and stuns it for up to 6 sec. You will automatically stop attacking. Target must be facing you. Any damage received by the stunned target will revive it.
    • Enrage

    Moroes and four of six guests, a different set each week. He gouges the tank, garrotes random players and vanishes.

    Tanks
    A second tank sits second on threat: Gouge stuns the top-threat tank. Tank the guests not crowd-controlled.
    Healers
    Garrote bleeds last until the fight ends: heal them steadily. The guests include healers; interrupt them.
    Damage dealers
    Crowd-control guests (Shackle, Polymorph and the like), kill the healing guests first, then Moroes. He enrages at low health.

The guest chambers and the Opera

On the way: Concubines and wanton hostesses charm; the Opera's backstage is full of spectral performers.

  1. 4

    Maiden of Virtue

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    424,900
    Mana
    67,740
    Armor
    6,193
    • RepentancePuts all nearby enemy targets in a state of meditation, incapacitating them for 12 sec. Breaks on damage.
    • Holy FireConsumes an enemy in flames, burning it and inflicting additional Fire damage every 2 sec. over 12 sec.
    • Holy Wrath
    • Holy GroundDeal 240 to 360 Holy damage and prevents spellcasting for 1 sec.

    Maiden's Repentance incapacitates the whole raid, Holy Fire burns random players and Holy Wrath chains between players standing together. Holy Ground silences those near her.

    Tanks
    Tank her in the middle of the room so healers and ranged players can spread around her at an even distance.
    Healers
    Stand spread in a circle outside Holy Ground, and dispel Holy Fire.
    Damage dealers
    Spread out around the room so Holy Wrath can't chain between players; Repentance stuns everyone, so expect the pause.
  2. 5

    Opera Event — The Big Bad Wolf, Romulo, Julianne, The Crone, Dorothee, Roar, Strawman, Tinhead

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    379,400
    Armor
    7,684
    • Terrifying HowlCauses nearby enemies to flee in fear for 3 sec.
    • Wide Swipe
    • Blinding PassionPurifies the enemy for 1500 Holy damage and then an additional 3000 Holy damage over 4 sec.
    • DevotionIncreases the Physical damage dealt by the caster by 50% and the caster's attack speed by 50% for 10 sec.
    • Eternal AffectionCalls upon Holy magic to heal an ally.
    • Powerful AttractionDazzles the target, filling it with intense attraction, stunning them for 6 sec.
    • Backward LungeStrikes at an enemy behind the caster, inflicting 1900 to 2100 Physical damage and knocking the enemy away.
    • DaringIncreases the Physical damage dealt by the caster by 35% and the caster's attack speed by 35% for 8 sec.

    One of three plays each week: The Wizard of Oz, Romulo and Julianne, or Red Riding Hood.

    1. Wizard of Oz: Dorothee, Roar, Strawman and Tinhead come out in turn, then The Crone. Strawman takes heavy fire damage; Tinhead slows down as he rusts; The Crone's cyclones move around the stage.
    2. Romulo and Julianne: Julianne first (interrupt her heal), then Romulo, then both: they must die within a few seconds of each other or the survivor revives the other.
    3. Red Riding Hood: the Big Bad Wolf turns a random player into Little Red Riding Hood and chases them; that player runs around the stage.
    Tanks
    Wizard of Oz: pick up each character as it comes; Romulo and Julianne: tank them apart in the last phase; Red Riding Hood: pick the wolf back up after each chase.
    Healers
    Keep the tank up, and keep Little Red Riding Hood alive as they run.
    Damage dealers
    Interrupt Julianne's heals. In Oz, mages and other fire users burn Strawman.

The Menagerie and the library

On the way: Arcane watchmen, mana warps that explode, and Astral Spark constructs. The library's arcane anomalies and shadow pillagers hit hard.

  1. 6

    The Curator

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    698,050
    Mana
    67,740
    Armor
    6,193
    • Astral ArmorReduces all damage taken by 90%.
    • Astral DeconstructionIncreases Arcane damage taken by all enemy targets by 500%. Game over.
    • Arcane InfusionImbues the caster with Arcane damage, causing 1500 to 2500 Arcane damage to targets hit by melee swings.
    • EvocationRegenerate 5% mana per second for 20 sec. Damage taken while Evocating is increased by 200%.
    • Hateful BoltDeals 4435 to 5999 Arcane damage to a very threatening target with high health.

    The Curator summons Astral Flares that hit the raid, and his Hateful Bolt hits the player with the second-most threat. When his mana runs out he evokes and takes double damage. At low health he stops summoning and enrages.

    Tanks
    Tank him; the second-highest player on threat should have plenty of health (another tank or a warrior).
    Healers
    Heal through the flares and the Hateful Bolts; burn phases need steady tank healing.
    Damage dealers
    Kill each Astral Flare at once; burn the Curator during Evocation.
  2. 7

    Terestian Illhoof

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    70 · Boss
    Health
    698,600
    Armor
    6,792
    • SacrificeSacrifices the target to the old gods, stunning it and leeching 1500 health every 1 sec for 30 sec.
    • Shadow BoltHurls missiles of dark magic, inflicting Shadow damage to nearby enemies.
    • Fiendish PortalOpens a portal into the Twisting Nether that periodically summons demonic minions to aid the caster in battle for until cancelled.
    • Summon ImpSummons an Imp to accompany the caster until dismissed.
    • Berserk
    • Broken PactAll damage taken increased by 25%.

    Illhoof keeps an imp, Kil'rek, beside him; killing it makes him take more damage for a while. He chains random players in a Sacrifice and summons imps without end.

    Tanks
    Tank Illhoof; another tank or warlock picks up Kil'rek. Area-tank the imps.
    Healers
    Heal the Sacrifice target until their chains break.
    Damage dealers
    Break the Demon Chains at once when a player is sacrificed; kill Kil'rek when Illhoof is about to take more damage; area damage clears imps.
  3. 8

    Shade of Aran

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    849,760
    Mana
    168,388
    Armor
    3,878
    • FrostboltInflicts Frost damage to an enemy and reduces its movement speed for 4 sec.
    • FireballInflicts 3910 to 5290 Fire damage to an enemy.
    • PyroblastInflicts Fire damage to nearby enemies.
    • Mass PolymorphTransforms all nearby enemies into sheep, forcing them to wander around for up to 10 sec, quickly regenerating their health. Any damage will transform the target back into its normal form. Only works on beasts, dragons, giants, humanoids, and critters.
    • Summon Water ElementalsSummons Water Elementals to protect the caster.
    • Dragon's BreathSets an enemy aflame, inflicting 6000 Fire damage over 6 sec. and sending it into a state of panic. While the target is affected, the flames periodically scorch its nearby allies for 1000 damage as well.
    • Massive Magnetic Pull
    • Mass SlowReduces the attack speed of all enemies within 13 by 35% and slows its movement by 60% for 10 sec.

    Aran is a caster that can't be tanked. Flame Wreath kills anyone who moves out of it; Blizzard sweeps the room; he pulls everyone to the middle and casts Arcane Explosion. At low mana he drinks; at low health he summons water elementals.

    Tanks
    Nothing to tank until his elementals arrive: then pick them up (they can also be banished or feared).
    Healers
    Heal through his spells; never move during Flame Wreath.
    Damage dealers
    Interrupt his spells; don't move when Flame Wreath is up; run to the walls after he pulls everyone in; burn him while he drinks.
  4. 9

    Netherspite

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    70 · Boss
    Health
    1,117,800
    Mana
    3,155
    Armor
    5,474
    • Nether BurnCauses the caster to automatically inflict 150 Shadow damage every 5 sec. to nearby enemies. The aura lasts until cancelled.
    • Empowerment
    • Nether Portal - Perseverence
    • Nether Portal - Serenity
    • Nether Portal - Domination
    • Nether Infusion
    • Void ZoneSummon a Void Zone that deals shadow damage to enemies that stand within it
    • NetherbreathInflicts 0 Arcane damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster.

    Netherspite fires three beams that empower whoever they hit: red (tank), green (healers) and blue (damage). Players stand in the beams to stop him getting their power, and rotate before the debuff grows too much. He banishes himself now and then and breathes on the raid.

    Tanks
    Stand in the red beam to tank him; rotate with a second tank.
    Healers
    A healer stands in the green beam and rotates out; others heal the beam carriers.
    Damage dealers
    Damage dealers take turns in the blue beam. Avoid his void zones, and spread out during the banish phase.

The top of the tower

On the way: The Chess Event replaces most of the trash; the stairs above have a few demon packs.

  1. 10

    Chess Event

    Loot and drops →

    The raid controls the Alliance or Horde pieces on Medivh's chessboard and must take the enemy king; Medivh cheats by setting squares on fire and healing his own pieces.

    Tanks
    Take the sturdy pieces (rooks and the like) and hold the front line.
    Healers
    The healer pieces keep the king and front pieces alive.
    Damage dealers
    Move pieces out of the fire Medivh starts and focus the enemy king.
  2. 11

    Prince Malchezaar

    Loot and drops →
    Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    1,138,200
    Armor
    7,684
    • Sunder ArmorHacks at an enemy's armor, reducing it by 1000 per Sunder Armor. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 20 sec.
    • Amplify DamageIncreases all forms of damage taken by an enemy by 100% for 10 sec.
    • Shadow NovaDark magic is unleashed, causing 3000 Shadow damage and knocking back all enemies within 30 yds.
    • Shadow Word: PainUtters a word of darkness, inflicting Shadow damage to an enemy every 3 sec. for 18 sec.
    • Enfeeble

    Three phases. First he enfeebles random players to almost no health, then casts Shadow Nova; next he wields two axes; finally his axes fly around the room and Infernals fall all through the fight.

    1. First phase: Enfeeble drops several players to almost no health, then Shadow Nova: enfeebled players run away from him.
    2. Second phase (below about 60%): he wields two axes and hits the tank much harder.
    3. Third phase (below about 30%): his axes fly around the room, and he amplifies the damage on one player.
    Tanks
    Keep him in place; the second phase is the hard part for tank healing. Avoid the Infernals' Hellfire.
    Healers
    Heal the tank hard in the second phase; heal enfeebled players only after the effect ends.
    Damage dealers
    Run out when enfeebled. Stay out of Hellfire around each Infernal.
  3. Level
    73 · Boss
    Health
    1,327,900
    Armor
    7,684
    • Rain of BonesBombards the target and nearby allies with bone fragments, summoning 3 skeletons in the process.
    • Bellowing Roar
    • Target Charred Earth
    • Smoldering BreathInflicts 3700 to 4300 Fire damage to enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
    • Tail SweepInflicts 450 damage on enemies in a cone behind the caster, knocking them back.
    • CleaveInflicts normal damage plus 50 to an enemy and its nearest allies, affecting up to 2 targets.
    • Distracting AshReduces the range of spells and abilities by 50%. ### Do not translate: This still needs its correct aura applied.
    • Smoking BlastDeals 1850 to 2150 physical damage to the target and additional fire damage over time.

    Summoned with the Blackened Urn. On the ground he breathes, sweeps his tail, fears and leaves charred earth. In the air he rains bones that raise skeletons and throws fireballs.

    Tanks
    Face him away; stay fear-immune where you can. Pick up the skeletons in the air phase.
    Healers
    Heal through Smoldering Breath on the ground and the fireballs in the air; Distracting Ash lowers hit chance in the air phase.
    Damage dealers
    Move out of charred earth; kill the skeletons in the air phase.

Before you go

  • Use crowd control on Moroes's guests and prepare fear control for Nightbane.
  • Check which Opera event is active before assigning roles.
  • Bring two tanks and a balanced healing group; several bosses require a second threat target or split assignments.
  • The Master's Key chain was required for original early-phase access. Later phases remove the personal raid attunement; a key may still be useful for the exterior gate. Nightbane has a separate summon chain.

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